Dentures – Arlington, TX
Rebuild a Beautiful Smile with Full & Partial Dentures
Losing several or all of your teeth doesn’t just affect your oral health. It can make even the simplest, most common activities embarrassing and difficult, like speaking or eating. Not to mention, the influence tooth loss has had on your self-esteem. You don’t have to live with the challenges of an incomplete smile. Dr. Wardlaw offers the latest advancements to create high-quality, natural-looking dentures in Arlington.
Who's a Good Candidate for Dentures?
Are you considering dentures, but you’re unsure if you’re a candidate? If so, we have good news for you: this tried-and-true tooth-replacement solution is a great option for patients who have suffered extensive tooth loss throughout one or both arches. So, don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation! In the meantime, you can read on to learn more on the topic, including the qualities we look for in a good candidate.
Effects of Missing Teeth
First, we need to discuss the importance of replacing missing teeth, even if no one can see the gaps in your mouth when you smile.
Without your teeth, you’ll have no choice but to stick to a diet consisting of mainly soft foods. Not only can this get boring really quickly, but it can also lead to nutritional deficiencies and negatively impact your overall health. Plus, the teeth surrounding the open space can drift over time, making the alignment of your bite even worse.
It’s also important to note that even relatively minor gaps in your mouth can negatively impact your speaking patterns, making it difficult to communicate with those around you. In that way, dentures don’t just benefit your oral and overall health; they benefit your relationships and self-esteem!
What Qualifies You for Dentures?
The easiest way to find out if you’re a good candidate is by scheduling a consultation with our dentist in Arlington, Dr. Wardlaw. In addition to reviewing your dental history, he will examine your mouth and learn more about your goals. Based on your oral and general health, he’ll determine what the next best steps are. Sometimes, that’s solidifying the details of your restoration, including the size and shape of each replacement tooth. Other times, it’s intervening with the necessary preliminary care, like extractions or periodontal therapy.
Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options
While dentures are a popular, reliable, and custom tooth-replacement option, they aren’t the only one. We also offer two other solutions at our Arlington office:
If you are interested in learning more about dentures (or any of the other tooth-replacement solutions we offer), don’t hesitate to let us know! We’d be happy to answer any questions you have and help you on your journey to a complete, healthy, and beautiful smile.
Types of Dentures
You have more options than ever to replace your missing teeth, but not all will be right for your smile. Don’t worry, Dr. Wardlaw will explain all your options, which may include:
Partial Dentures
Partial dentures are uniquely designed for each patient using an arrangement of prosthetic teeth along a gum-like base. The teeth are positioned to fill the gaps from those you’ve lost. They are carefully crafted to match your remaining teeth to blend in with your smile. A partial is held in place using clips or brackets, so it’s removable for easy cleaning and storage.
Full Dentures
As the name implies, a full denture consists of a complete row of teeth affixed to a gum-colored base that’s held in place using suction or an adhesive. They are made from durable, comfortable material for optimal fit and aesthetics. Dentures are a tried-and-proven method to restore a beautiful, functional smile.
Implant Dentures
If you’re looking for a more secure and confident tooth replacement method, implant dentures are the way to go. Instead of using clips or adhesives, dental implants anchor the denture to your jawbone. The posts replicate new tooth roots to give you a nearly perfect replica of your real teeth. Implant dentures are available in fixed and removable options. No matter your preference, you’ll never have to worry about any slipping or irritation.
The Benefits of Dentures
Your teeth are important for more than just an attractive smile. Dentures are an investment in your oral health, quality of life, and self-esteem. Overall, you’ll benefit from:
The loss of multiple teeth can make many activities of daily life such as smiling confidently, chewing thoroughly, and speaking clearly difficult, which can lead to much frustration and social isolation. Thankfully, dentures can change a patient’s life by replacing their missing teeth with beautiful and functional restorations. Here’s a brief guide to a few of the many benefits offered by dentures from I-20 Family Dental.
Psychological Benefits
The loss of all of one’s teeth can make a patient less confident and more reluctant to engage socially while increasing their risks of sadness and depression. Thankfully, restoring the appearance and function of your smile with dentures can bolster your confidence and self-esteem. Having a beautiful and lifelike grin that you’re proud to show off can make it much easier to feel good about your appearance, chew thoroughly and gracefully, pronounce words clearly, and participate in social activities.
Clearer Enunciation
Tooth loss can alter the way air moves around the mouth during speech, and this can make pronouncing certain words difficult. Since dentures work in the place of your lost teeth, they can make it easy to form the many sounds that make up human language. After you get used to wearing your appliance, speaking while wearing them should become increasingly easy and comfortable.
Improves Nutrition
Many nutritious items like fresh meat, raw fruits and veggies, and crunchy seeds and nuts can be prohibitively difficult to chew after tooth loss, and this can make a person much more likely to experience issues like indigestion and malnutrition. Thankfully, dentures can restore much of your chewing power so you can enjoy an expansive and interesting diet that will help your body stay healthy and strong. This can help a patient maintain high energy levels, avoid illness, and keep a positive mood.
Preserves Oral Health
The loss of teeth can deprive the jawbone of the exercise it needs to stay strong, and the resulting atrophy of its structure can lead to oral health issues like dental misalignments, infections, gum injuries, and tooth loss. Dentures can help prevent these issues by bracing the remaining teeth so they can retain their positions more easily, and they can also redistribute the pressure of chewing more evenly across the arch to prevent unnecessary wear and tear.
Expands Opportunities
People are quick to notice the smiles of others, so having a grin you can be proud of can help you make an excellent first impression in professional and social situations. In fact, some research suggests that people with poor oral health are less likely to be employed. Receiving dentures may make it easier to make friends, close sales, land a juicy new job, or receive a lucrative promotion.
Rebuild a Beautiful Smile Today
If you’re ready to replace your lost teeth, we’d love to help you get back to smiling brightly. Contact our office today to schedule your consultation with Dr. Wardlaw for dentures. We have the personalized solutions you need to love the smile you see in the mirror.
Denture FAQs
How long will it take to adjust to my dentures?
Everyone who receives a dental prosthetic like dentures will undergo an adjustment period as they get used to the way they function and feel. Typically, patients are able to adjust to wearing them within about 30 days, but there are some ways you can speed up this period, including:
- Have realistic expectations about the process, including understanding that you’re likely to experience some muscles soreness, irritation, and speaking and eating difficulties.
- Maintain a soft diet to begin with, working your way up to eating chewier foods. When eating meats and more textured meals, be sure to take small, manageable bites.
- Don’t eat with your front teeth and avoid certain foods that are excessively sticky and hard.
Can I sleep with my dentures?
Your gums will need a rest, which is why you’ll want to take out your dentures every night as you sleep and put them in a glass of lukewarm water. This will ensure they maintain their shape while preventing bacteria accumulation and allowing your mouth to get a much-needed break from supporting your denture.
How do I clean my dentures?
- Carefully Remove Your Dentures: To avoid accidentally damaging your dentures, be careful while removing them and never place them on a slick surface like a bare countertop. Instead, place a clean towel over any smooth surface and place them on that.
- Clean Your Mouth: Don’t forget to clean your gums, tongue and existing teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste every morning and night.
- Brush Your Dentures at Least Once a Day: Brush your dentures daily using a special denture brush and non-abrasive cleaner. Never use hot water while cleaning your dentures, always cool or room temperature.
- Soak Your Dentures Overnight: Soak your dentures in denture cleaning solution or room temperature water every night.
- Schedule Routine Dental Visits: Don’t forget to visit your dentist every six months for checkups and cleanings.
- Always Rinse Your Dentures After Eating: After each time you eat, be sure to rinse off your dentures with room temperature water.
What foods won’t I be able to eat with dentures?
Avoid eating foods that are sticky, chewy, and hard with your dentures, because it could shift your new teeth, causing difficulty and embarrassment while chewing, or potentially damage your restoration. Here is a brief list of what foods our team would recommend avoiding with dentures:
- Gummies, caramels, and other hard and chewy candies
- Nuts
- Tough meats
- Raw fruits and vegetables
- Foods with seeds in it, like certain fruits and breads
- Popcorn
- Stain-causing foods and beverages
Instead, stick to foods that are softer, or be sure to be very careful when eating more textured foods.